Explore the rich history and culture of Ireland. The course will acquaint students with Ireland’s history, culture, and society by visiting historical sites, museums, vibrant cities, and the Irish countryside.
Spring 2024Prior to and after the trip, students will have weekly meetings with Professor Anthony Daly, the faculty leader of the trip, to discuss issues relating to Irish history, culture and society. Students will be required to finish assigned readings and submit assignments.
During the trip, Professor Daly and other guides will give on-site talks and tours, and students will be required to keep a journal. After the trip, students will complete a final project based on their knowledge of, and experience in, Ireland.
Students will be evaluated on the following: attendance at class meetings, participation in discussions, written tests, in-class presentations, written assignments on course readings, a final reflective project on the knowledge and experience gained in the course, and behavior on the travel portion of the course.
DublinDublin, the capital of the Republic of Ireland, is drenched in history and culture. Wonderfully walkable, the city offers visitors famous sights such as Trinity College, Dublin Castle, and of course the Georgian architecture of the eighteenth century. Side by side with these landmarks are the green parks, bustling streets, and hip neighborhoods of modern Dublin, one of Europe’s most vibrant capitals. This is a city made famous by writers and poets such as James Joyce, Jonathan Swift, and W.B. Yeats, but we will also experience the history of Dublin, with visits to Kilmainham Jail, which held so many Irish patriots in past centuries, the National Museum, and the Book of Kells, a an illustrated manuscript from over a thousand years ago.
One of the highlights of our time in Dublin will be a day trip into the Wicklow Mountains
National Park to experience the splendor of Glendalough. The name means “Valley of
the Two Lakes” in the Irish language, and it is one of the most inspiring spots in
Ireland, with the remains of a monastery, founded in the sixth century, set in great
natural
beauty.
Belfast is a wonderful city with stunning buildings from the nineteenth century and streets that date back to the 1600s. We will see reminders of the conflicts from past years, but also the transformation of a newly confident city and its friendly people. With Belfast as a base, we will also explore the beauty of county Antrim, highlighted by the Giant’s Causeway, recognized by the United Nations as a World Heritage Site. This natural marvel of 55 million year-old hexagonal columns is situated on the rugged and scenic Irish coast, where green fields meet the sea.
KilkennyWe will take the train through the countryside to Kilkenny. If Belfast is Victorian and Dublin is Georgian, Kilkenny takes us back further; the Medieval Mile stretches from Kilkenny Castle to St. Canice’s Cathedral. Walk a little more and find winding alleys, a striking abbey, and a round tower that you can climb for a view of the city and beyond. Kilkenny has played a prominent role in Ireland’s bloody history, especially in the seventeenth century, but today the town’s history is matched with a busy contemporary life in shops, music, sports, and restaurants.
Cost: Approximately $2,500 per person
All inclusive features include:
Three upper-level credits for MCLA students
$400 due on enrollment
$600 due on November 1
$700 due on December 1
$800 due on February 1
History and Political Science
(413) 662-5478
Anthony.Daly@mcla.edu
Professor Daly teaches a variety of courses in world and European history, including Irish and British history. He has traveled to Ireland more than a dozen times.
